Patents by Inventor Robert D. Stevens

Robert D. Stevens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10966299
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200337132
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200205260
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load is configured to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, JR., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Publication number: 20200195460
    Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John C. Browne, JR., Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
  • Patent number: 10652980
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for controlling an intensity of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. The control is applied through at least an LED drive circuit, a current sense circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate in a first state and a second state on a periodic basis, and to control the LED drive circuit in the first and second states during respective time periods based on a load current feedback signal provided by the current sense circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit and to adjust an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal or a length of the time periods to adjust an average magnitude of the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10609777
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load is configured to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Publication number: 20200020223
    Abstract: A remote control device having capacitive touch controls may be configured to enter a sleep state (or mode). For example, the remote control device may be configured to enter the sleep state upon expiration of an interval of time since a most recent button press. The remote control may be configured to awaken from the sleep state when one or more portions of a housing of the remote control are deflected, for example, when a user grasps the remote control to actuate one or more of the capacitive touch controls. For example, the remote control device may include a switch. The switch may include a carbon structure that may be configured to contact an open circuit pad on a circuit board to close the corresponding circuit when the housing is deflected and awaken the remote control device from the sleep state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Mann, Matthew Philip McDonald, Lawrence R. Carmen, JR., Robert D. Stevens, JR.
  • Patent number: 10516546
    Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John C. Browne, Jr., Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20190335555
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190313500
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load may operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit may control the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit may adjust the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, JR., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Patent number: 10424192
    Abstract: A remote control device having capacitive touch controls may be configured to enter a sleep state (or mode). For example, the remote control device may be configured to enter the sleep state upon expiration of an interval of time since a most recent button press. The remote control may be configured to awaken from the sleep state when one or more portions of a housing of the remote control are deflected, for example, when a user grasps the remote control to actuate one or more of the capacitive touch controls. For example, the remote control device may include a switch. The switch may include a carbon structure that may be configured to contact an open circuit pad on a circuit board to close the corresponding circuit when the housing is deflected and awaken the remote control device from the sleep state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Mann, Matthew Philip McDonald, Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr., Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10375781
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load includes controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode includes at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method includes regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10356868
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load operates in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Publication number: 20190089551
    Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Browne, Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20190075629
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190008012
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load may operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit may control the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit may adjust the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, JR., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Patent number: 10136484
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10135629
    Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Browne, Jr., Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10104735
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load may operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit may control the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit may adjust the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Publication number: 20180160493
    Abstract: A lighting control system for controlling a cumulative light emitted by a lighting fixture may comprise a light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising an output for conducting an output current, and a control module electrically coupled to the output of the LED driver for receiving the output current. The LED driver may regulate the magnitude of the output current towards a target current, and may be characterized by a low-end intensity. The control module may be coupled to a first LED light source of the LED light sources. The control module may receive a command including a requested intensity and control the magnitude of a first LED current through the first LED light source. The control module may control the cumulative light output of the lighting fixture below the low-end intensity of the LED driver by diverting a portion of the output current away from the first LED light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Picard, Johnathan Paul Ross, Robert D. Stevens, JR.